RAPID CITY- Marian Schmidt Williams of Rapid City died on November 23, 2015.  A centenarian like her mother, the 101-year-old was living at Westhills Village Health Care facility at the time of her death.

Marian Isabel Victoria Swanson was born in Montrose, SD on August 24, 1914 to Victor and Emma (Ericsson) Swanson.  Marian's grandparents had emigrated from Sweden and homesteaded in southeastern South Dakota in the 1880's.

Marian was educated in Montrose and graduated at the top of her class.  She received her teaching certificate in 1934 after attending Augustana College in Sioux Falls.  Thereafter, she taught for five years in Montrose, Meckling and Sturgis.  In 1939, the day after school was out in Sturgis, she married Lowell Schmidt, who was serving as states attorney for McCook County.  In 1941, they moved to Huron, where Lowell became legal counsel for the Standard Oil Company's district office, and later served as mayor of the city.  In the early 1970's, they relocated to Rapid City and spent winters in Green Valley, Arizona.  After Lowell's death in 1988, Marian married a childhood friend, Donald Williams, who had also been widowed.  They lived in Green Valley until 2001, when they returned to Rapid City to be closer to family.  Don preceded Marian in death in 2008.  Marian was married to Lowell for almost 50 years and to Don for almost 19 years.  She always said that she was "twice blessed with the love of two dear gentlemen."

Although Marian retired from teaching in 1939 to become a housewife, she was active in Girl Scouts, LaSertoma, PEO and the Republican Party.  She loved fashion and modeled for Eilers Furs for many years, in both Huron and Rapid City.  She also enjoyed reading, playing cards and working crossword puzzles daily.  Her creative talents included playing the violin, writing poetry, sewing, cooking, gardening, entertaining and ballroom dancing with her husband, Lowell.  In recent years, she took up singing nostalgic songs and church hymns.  She cherished her Swedish heritage and periodically gave programs on holiday traditions, such as St. Lucia's Day on Dec. 13, wearing a Swedish costume she had sewn and serving traditional foods.  She will be remembered for her grace, beauty and style, her heavenly desserts, her sparkling personality, and her deep faith.

Marian was preceded in death by her brothers Oliver, Loren and Arthur, her son, Robert Lowell, and her grandson Shane.  She is survived by her daughters Priscilla (Ronald) Schmidt of Rapid City and Ann (Richard) Hames of Edina, MN and her son Mark (Carolyn Wright) Schmidt of Sahuarita, AZ.  She leaves four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A private family service will be held in McCook County.

In memory of Marian, donations can be made in her name to Hospice of the Hills in Rapid City or to Augustana College in Sioux Falls.